jchinuk

When I hear "permanent exhibitions" one name comes to mind, Bernard Otto.  This link is to a previous thread on these forums.

I remember one of his layouts at Colchester Zoo many years ago.

jch

4 minutes ago, Reorte said:

Isn't there a new mine supposed to be opening in Cumbria? IIRC it's to supply coal for the steel industry, which still needs it. I don't know when it'll come on line though (not right away), or whether the coal is suitable.

News here.

jch

Perhaps Tesla could be persuaded to build suitable wagons containing batteries and drive motors.  Hitch one to the steam trains to power the whole thing along?

jch 

50 minutes ago, Hibelroad said:

Anyone who has ever received medical attention in the UK will have a NHS number and computerised medical records so that covers just about everyone. Those with a NHS number will be invited for vaccination in due course, but it has already been made clear that vaccination will not be compulsory. Some will refuse and all I can say is good luck to them. 

Quite correct, but despite numerous attempts, the NHS' computerised medical records are local (well primary care trust) based and many and varied formats.  The NHS number is generated when you first have contact with the NHS, obviously that's at birth for most of us!

jch

18 hours ago, 96701 said:

I'm not sure that the NHS will have a list of all UK residents.

Quite correct, the NHS only has a list of people registered with GPs, plus those who have had contact with a hospital, for example in A&E.  I used to work in breast screening before I retired, the GP lists are used as the basis for calling ladies in the right age group for their screening appointments.

kch

19 hours ago, Grizz said:

Dating, Women and ‘the Hobby’..

 

Let’s face it in the past ‘the hobby’ has suffered from what is now referred to as ‘Image Issues’. And not without justification.
This has not helped in the dating stakes for some. Although as some have previously said it is slightly more acceptable today.
 

After passing an initial, very discreet, comment to me regarding this episode nothing else was said, but Mrs Grizz and I later talked at some length about the show and the characterful nature of some of the attendees. She asked why you don’t see these people on a daily basis in the street. To be clear she wasn’t being derogatory or unkind in her comments, possibly a bit shocked. Couldn’t really answer her question. . What is it about ‘the hobby’ that attracts people of a certain appearance and, for want of a better word, Smell?????? They seem to be drawn to model railways, railways, steam and diesel galas in general and possibly buses? 
 

Anyone else noticed this? Is it something that is peculiar to the UK? I have travelled extensively on railways in Northern Europe and hung around railway stations taking photos etc and been to numerous model railway events and museums etc and yet I have never seen the equivalent obsessive, often disheveled type of character? 
 

 

Firstly on the "image" problem, many years ago (probably the 80s) I took my Dad to a Model Railway Exhibition at the Wembley Conference Centre.  I had an interest in modelling, more plastic kits at the time, but Dad was a keen railway modeller.  At the same time there was a country music festival at the Empire Pool (I think it's called the Wembley Arena nowadays), so there were country music fans dressed as cowboys, complete with (I assume) replica six-shooters and covered in rhinestones, walking by and taking the piss out of those playing with "toy trains".  The irony was not lost on me.

On the second point about less hygienic characters at shows, I still make scale models and these folk are a regular subject of discussion on the modelling forums.  They do not just frequent model railway shows.  I cannot explain their behaviour, though one hopes they are at least washing their hands at the moment.

As to seeing these unfortunates "in the street", I have encountered several, both male and female, over the years at work, so I think you can assume they are about in the community. 

jch

The BBC reported this in 2006 when the 70s patent turned-up in the EU Patent office.

The patent lapsed when the renewal fees were not paid, a pity they could have flogged the design to Musk to pay for HS2.

jch

3 hours ago, Reorte said:

I'm guessing he's just against the steam trains, horror, something burning coal! Couldn't care for the fact there are hardly enough of them running any more to make any environmental impact, but that's never stopped certain  environmentalists from their onward march to make the world as bleak and souless as possible (the road to hell is paved with good intentions...) Like the Extinction Rebellion types the're more likely to put people off and negatively affect their cause than achieve anything towards their goals.

My cynical side thinks the original writer arrives from Surrey, bikes hanging off the back of his Range Rover, wanting an idyllic ride through virgin land.

jch

On 06/12/2020 at 16:27, sir douglas said:

remember that person from several years ago that moved to their new house next to the Bluebell and then complained at the smoke and tried setting up a  petition to get it banned

A variation on those who move to the country and complain about "farm yard" smells, muck spreading and mud left on the roads.

jch

15 minutes ago, rob D2 said:

You know the BBC person writing does not know much about aircraft when they include the phrase “ nose dive “. 
 

Dive will do just fine ，pitch down better ..

To be fair, 99% or more of those reading it will know exactly what "nose dive" means, though I admit a "tail dive" would be a good aerobatic manoeuvre.   Pitch down would mean nothing to the general public.

jch

39 minutes ago, Reorte said:

All this stuff about phones - how often do you really need a phone in the car at all? Do people really need to know you're on your way, unless you're running significantly late?

In my (humble) Fiesta, the music is on the phone and the car links to the phone to call for assistance in the event of an accident.  That said, I agree on taking calls.

Thinking of pedals, try driving a Ford Model T, as you can see the three pedals are totally different and foot brake acts on the transmission, not the brakes on the wheel hubs.

jch

16 hours ago, ejstubbs said:

 

Does he endorse left-foot braking in manual gearbox cars as well?

 

Honest John is quite opinionated on many automotive-related topics, and definitely has a very buzzy bee in his bonnet about certain of them.  In my experience rather too many of his opinions turn out not to be particularly well-founded so I'm afraid I find myself unable to regard his views as authoritative without supporting evidence from an independent source.

 

We share the same views on "Honest John",  but you put it more eloquently than I would.  He seems to have been supplanted from the "Honest John" website.

The whole set-up seemed odd, he was obviously living in Thailand, he frequently mentioned the "lube shops" ( I hope that wasn't some sort sexy local slang ) there as an alternative to using a main dealers, yet he also pontificated on the UK driving experience and his time "in the trade".

jch

23 hours ago, boxbrownie said:

E-Pedal driving as coined by Nissan is fine, our i3 will do exactly the same thing, the regen is such that using the brake becomes a “last resort” action if there is an unexpected reason to brake suddenly, using the accel pedal and regen to control the speed is a far nice way to drive and much more satisfying as a driver, and more comfortable as a passenger.

 

It is true that far too many drivers (of ICE cars) treat the accelerator / brake as 'on / off' switches.  While I tend not to engine brake, if I see the lights ahead are red I just ease off the accelerator and allow the car to slow down, finally braking.  Unlike some who rush up to the car in front and (hopefully) brake at the last minute.

jch

On 15/12/2020 at 12:26, 30801 said:

 

As for the two foot thing. No. Who even does that?

 

While I tend to agree, if you read "Honest John" the motoring correspondent who occasionally pops up on the BBC News, he is quite evangelical on the subject.  He often cites examples of deaths caused by "one footed" driving of automatics and claims he has "proved" during tests away from public roads that "two footed" driving of automatics is demonstrably safer.

I offer no endorsement of his views, but it's not as unusual as you might think.

jch

Regarding the discussion on brakes / engine to slow down, the problem is that all too many drivers use the brakes to slow down prior to a sharp corner, but then fail to select the correct gear for the turn, so the car is frantically trying to pull away once around the corner.  You often notice this when they pull out and fail to accelerate.

With reference to EVs, the Nissan Leaf has an "e-pedal" mode, which is essentially "one pedal driving" the car comes to a stop if you lift off the pedal.

Given the number of accidents where drivers lose control of automatics by pressing on the accelerator, thinking it's the brake, I fear such accidents and tragedies will become all to common once EVs are the rule, more so in the case of "one pedal", I've driven over 40 years with three pedals.  If I get an EV (or an automatic) do I adapt to using both feet, "right go, left stop" or try to drive one-footed? 

I can only find figures from the US, but such driver errors are causing concern there, albeit automatics are far more common.  I have to say that there seem to be equally vociferous arguments from both sides on this issue.

jch

32 minutes ago, Kris said:

I know that they are not the first, but they have achieved some good publicity. 

It was on BBC Breakfast this morning.

jch

I don't think it's anything to do with Brexit, but I understand HMG are expecting VAT to be charged by sellers (not specifically eBay) outside the UK.  Some smaller traders have decided not to ship to the UK as the overheads required are not worth the income from sales to the UK.

That said, I assume "private" sales would be exempt.

It's only speculation on my part, but I wondered that, given the special status of Northern Ireland, it would be an advantage to hold model shows in Belfast (for example) to make life easier for traders from Continental Europe and the Republic of Ireland.

jch

Regarding valve sets, I can remember my Dad's first "hi fi" was a valve tuner / amplifier, which worked well enough.  He needed a new valve and we went to a shop in Tottenham Court Road that stocked nothing but valves, I was probably about 8 or 9, but I remember it as a bit like the wand shop in "Harry Potter", but obviously with valves, mostly from Eastern Europe, though equivalents of 'Western' items.

It's worth remembering valves persisted in military applications long after transistors dominated the domestic market, valves are far more robust in the case of the electro-magnetic pulse created by nuclear weapons, a bonus in the "Cold War" in case it got "Hot".

Valves are still used in hi-fi, though really for aesthetic reasons.

jch

On 07/12/2020 at 14:43, 30801 said:

 

Where do you get the hydrogen?

Oddly, there was a hydrogen re-fuelling station near where I live about 15 years ago.  Transport for London conducted an experiment on the 360 route, it was during Ken Livingstone's tenure in County Hall.  I assume it was easier to install the fuelling facilities away from built-up areas (i.e. bus garages) they located it next to a BP filling station on the A127 near Romford.  I used to see the buses regularly, emitting a cloud of water vapour, they looked like Sentinel Steam lorries, though were obviously red.  The re-fuelling facility was removed perhaps ten years ago and returned to nature.

jch

Remember that George Russell was driving Lewis Hamilton's car, GR is 4 inches taller than LH, and the shift paddles on the car were too small for GR too.  Imagine getting into a road car with the steering wheel, seat and seatbelts adjusted for someone 4" taller than you?  F1 cars are built around the drivers.

I hope that Lewis Hamilton decides he still feels a bit poorly for the final race and George Russell gets another chance, though whether that happens or not, George's next contract just got more expensive.

jch

4 hours ago, DY444 said:

 

Hmm.  It actually illustrates the effects of a transient event.  It ought to be pretty obvious that Eurostar is struggling because of the virus. The virus period is not going to define travel patterns for all eternity and certainly should not be used as a basis for long term strategic planning.  

I suppose a "bonus" of the reduction in Eurostar services will allow extra Tunnel Shuttle trains to clear the queues in Kent and Northern France after B-Day?

jch

Just to enter the discussion rather late, but the talk of HS2 is ironic as HS1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link) is struggling because of the decline in passengers on Eurostar, an article makes interesting reading.

Hopefully it's short term, but it illustrates the effect of "events, dear boy" (to misquote Macmillan).

jch

16 hours ago, Fenman said:

 

Defunding the police seems to be gaining traction in some places (more the US, of course), and the Youtube videos (again, US) show either vigilante action or people taking responsibility for their own neighbourhoods -- delete according to political taste.

 

If the police have decided their priority is not, in fact, you, it's tricky to argue that the state should retain its policing monopoly and you should not be allowed to provide for your own security.  Gated communities will expand, with more private security, and more polarisation of society... Not sure that's going to end well.

 

Paul

Defunding the police in the US is a complicated issue, US police departments seem to waste a lot of cash on toys which actually contribute nothing to the security of the local population,

Mine resistant?  Really?

Some UK forces have 'armoured' vehicles, but these are reserved for areas like London where terrorist incidents are considered more likely.  But these ex-military vehicles are common in the US, often in places where incidents and crime are rare, voters (remember many positions are elected) are scared into supporting such measures.

jch

12 hours ago, KeithMacdonald said:

 

I do sympathise, and I appreciate there are some delivery/courier firms with a consistently poor track record. I too had my (un)fair share of the frustration of finding "could not deliver" cards left on the doormat when we've been home all day waiting for the deliveries. It may be pot-luck on the firm and the depot nearest, but it was usually the usual suspects. Would it be unfair of me to name and shame? Yodel and Hermes.

 

Some might say there are similarities to the experiences some of us have posted over in the eBay thread, of some things being sent to people who then said they'd not received or complained about what they'd received.

 

More recently, however, #1 Daughter had a job driving an Amazon delivery van for six months, during lockdown, and shared her experiences from the "other side of the front door".

 

There are many different courier firms being used by Amazon across the UK. Although each is contracted to Amazon, they will have their own policies, procedures and attitudes. Locally (near us), there are seven different courier firms being used by Amazon to despatch from the nearest Amazon mega-distribution centre. For security, each has an exclusive one-hour slot for collections. With the firm she was driving for, they have a strict policy. Every delivery has to be signed-for, if possible, but of course many people are not home at the time. That's why the driver has to take a picture of each parcel in a recognisable position at each and every delivery location, so that there is proof of delivery.

 

Did my daughter do well? (I hear you ask)

Yes she did! 

(insert Proud Dad icon here)

 

In the whole of the six months, usually delivering 100+ parcels a day, the firm she was driving for only received four complaints (involving her) that a parcel hadn't been delivered. Miraculously, as soon as the photo evidence was offered, three of the four recipients found the stray parcels. Only one parcel in all that time was a genuine "gone missing / been nicked". Her managers were quite open that this mattered a lot to them, as "failed deliveries" is a key performance measure every time Amazon reviewed their contract, and the worst courier firms are getting weeded-out.

 

Even if you are then at the mercy of thieving scrots roaming the district. But the good news is that those kinds of hot-spots are being recognised and measures taken to reduce the risks.

Personally I feel that the drivers are the most secure aspect of the system, the Hermes driver across the summer was a London cabbie unable to work as a cabbie.  You confirm a suspicion of mine that some parcel recipients are happy to try and game the system to their advantage. 

I hope the rise in CCTV and Ring doorbells (which record those approaching the door) will deter those cruising the area for parcels.

jch

They are known as "porch pirates" in the US, and some home owners take revenge.  Not that I would condone such actions.

Actually, there are dozens of similar videos on YouTube.

The current (in the UK) system of contactless delivery really facilitates, as the drivers (often on a tight schedule) does not need to knock or ring the bell.

jch